Page 88 of How to Flirt with a Witch

BOOM!

An explosion shakes the shelves, sending bottles and containers rolling across the vinyl floor. Water sloshes out of tanks.

A gasp rattles my body, and my ears ring. I’m on all fours, coughing, panting hard as oxygen returns to my brain. My jeans are soaked to the knees, my fingers cold where they’re splayed in a puddle.

The dizziness wanes, and for a moment, I can’t move.

A crater blackens the beige vinyl. A purple butterfly sits on top of a gemstone. It flaps its wings, then takes off, soaring over the bird seed aisle and out of sight.

Sky’s hands close over my shoulders, her face swimming into my vision. “Hey. You did it. You got through it.”

Slowly, I register her words.I did it.I helped Sky locate the curse that nobody’s been able to find for a year.

Sky turns her attention to the crater in the floor, pocketing the gemstone and moving her hands to fix the damage while glancing over her shoulder.

Footsteps pound closer, the staff finally having found us among the aquariums. “What the hell is going on?” a man shouts. “Get out before I call the police.”

Sky meets my gaze, a mischievous smile on her lips. There’s apparently no protocol for how to deal with the aftermath of neutralizing a curse because she seizes my hand and hauls me to my feet. “Run.”

We sprint out of the pet store, and my shock falls behind me like I’m shedding a heavy jacket. It gives way to elation—warm, rising, free, like being in a hot air balloon.

“Cursed aquarium decor is no match for me!” I shout, and Sky laughs with me.

We jump into her car, and she taps the clock. “Two minutes to spare.”

I grin as she peels away, taking us into the flow of traffic. “I did it!” I squee, stomping my feet.

She reaches over and squeezes my shoulder. “Impressive, Katie.”

The buzz stays with us all the way back to CSAMM, where Sky throws open the door of an Alchemy lab to reveal a group of people that includes Fiona, Will, and—God help me—Natalie.

“Fiona!” Sky shouts, interrupting their conversation.

Everyone falls quiet. Fiona faces us with an eyebrow raised.

Sky motions to me with a flourish, giving a little bow. “Guess who just solved the Curse of the Pet Emporium?”

Chapter 21

Please Make the Right Choice

“You did not,” Fionablurts, a flash of childlike elation in her expression that I haven’t seen before. Then her gaze darts to everyone around her, and she lifts her chin and smooths her blazer, composing herself. “You’re telling me you neutralized whatever was in the pet store?”

Sky walks forward, taking the purple gemstone out of her pocket, and slaps it onto a stone table. “Aquarium decorations, aisle six.”

I hold my breath while Fiona stares at it.

She turns to me. “You’re lucky I trust Skylar.”

I raise my eyebrows. Is she implying she wouldn’t believe me otherwise? “And I’m lucky she gave me a proper chance to test my ability,” I say before I can stop myself.

Maybe it was snarky, but the adrenaline made me do it.

Fiona’s nostrils flare.

Everyone around us is quiet, looking on with expressions of surprise. I can’t meet Natalie’s eye, afraid of what I’ll see. Her tension is palpable,her arms crossed over her navy blue t-shirt. Her gaze burns the side of my face like a torch.

“You have to admit, it’s impressive,” Will says, and Fiona shoots him a glare.